MISS PICKEL'S PICKS

What if the most legendary kid at school suddenly disappeared...and no one knew where he went? Ms Fair recommended The Next Great Paulie Fink to me and I'm so glad she did - it's become one of my favorite books! It's about Caitlyn, who transfers to this tiny, unusual middle school where all anyone can talk about is a former student named Paulie Fink. He was a total legend - someone says he once hosted a secret game show in the hallway and someone else says he trained a goat to do tricks. Now that Paulie's gone, the class decides to hold a reality show style competition to find his replacement. Caitlyn is chosen to be the judge and she starts interviewing students and teachers to figure out what made Paulie so unforgettable. But everyone has a different version of who Paulie was and Caitlyn starts to realize just how unique every person truly is. This book is hilarious, full of great characters, and has a lot of heart. It reminded me of some of my favorite Gordon Korman ...

  The popular clique at Claflin Academy made a pact that they would each apply to a different Ivy League school. On early decision day Olivia, the main character, is surprised to learn that Emma secretly applied to Harvard, which was supposed to be reserved for Avery, the Queen Bee of the group. The next day Emma is found dead and Olivia, who had also secretly applied to Harvard, starts to investigate her death. Making things more complicated, Olivia and Emma both get into Harvard, but Avery doesn't. This is my favorite genre blend - a mystery/thriller set at a boarding school with a Gossip Girls/Mean Girls vibe. This book has it all: a protagonist worth rooting for, a mystery filled with red herrings, and a super fast pace. I highly recommend it!

The Legacies by Jessica Goodman is glitzy, twisty, and totally addictive—I loved it! Ms. Fair told me to drop everything and read this next because it had all the things I love in a book, and she was absolutely right. It opens with a murder at a fancy NYC private school’s ultra-exclusive ball and then flashes back to the days leading up to the ball and switches between three girls—Bernie, Isobel, and Tori—who are all invited to join the elite Legacy Club. Bernie and Isobel come from money, but Tori’s a scholarship kid, and her invite throws everyone off, including Tori. I expected the characters to be kind of stereotypical, but I was pleasantly surprised—the main characters are a lot more layered than they first seem. I flew through this fast-paced mystery and enjoyed every second of it!  

  This is the second book in my "One Book from Every Shelf" Challenge! This is the perfect beach read—whether you're on vacation or just wish you were. Set on Nantucket, The Sound blends mystery, romance, and a dash of danger as British teen Ren tries to escape her past and ends up in the middle of a murder investigation. I loved the supporting characters, especially the hilarious little girl Ren nannies. The book is fast-paced and full of fun Britishisms. It’s a great pick for summer or the middle of winter when you need a dose of sun!

F rom the very first page, Clap When You Land completely pulled me in with its stunning verse and deeply human characters. Elizabeth Acevedo’s writing is so lyrical and emotionally layered that I often found myself reading certain lines twice—once because the poetry is so beautiful and then again to make sure I didn't miss anything important in the plot. I couldn’t step away from this story. I had to read it almost in one sitting because I was so emotionally invested—I needed to know that Camino and Yahaira would be okay. The emotional pull of their journeys, both individually and together, is incredibly powerful. My favorite character was Tía Solana, Camino's aunt. She’s a midwife and healer in their Dominican community, and she radiates grace and quiet resilience. Her care for Camino and her selfless support of those around her made her one of the most grounding and memorable presences in the book. She’s the kind of character who quietly holds everything—and everyone—togethe...

I'm starting a challenge for myself this school year to help me expand my reading. I'm choosing a book from each of the fiction shelves that I haven't read before, starting with the letter A. I want to spotlight some older titles and to challenge myself a little by trying genres that I don't usually read. I'll choose some because I've heard good things about them, people have recommended them to me, or they fit with the season or my reading challenge for the month. My goal is to read at least two "Reading the Shelves" books a month. I'm starting with Elizabeth Acevedo's Clap When You Land . This is a recommendation from Ms Flanders. It's a novel in verse and I figured it would be a good opportunity to read poetry. I ended up loving it so much that I think it's one of my favorite books! So I think the challenge is paying off already!

  If you love Freaky Friday this book is for you! This is a funny, fast-paced story about Ellie and her scientist Grandpa, who turns himself into a kid and has to attend her middle school. This book was laugh out loud funny; I thought Grandpa Melvin was hilarious, especially the way he complains about "kids these days" while being one himself! I really liked the family dynamics between Ellie, her mom, and her grandfather; they bicker sometimes, but they truly care about each other. This book is the perfect mix of humor, science, and heart and I definitely recommend it!